Metrolink passengers refuse to give up a seat for heavily pregnant woman on crutches

Meenakshi Minnis, 31, found all the seats were taken when she got on a tram at Deansgate-Castlefield on her way home to Timperley. Mrs Minnis asked passengers on the tram if they would give up their seat – but no-one moved.

A mum-to-be was stunned when Metrolink passengers refused to give up their tram seat – even though she is eight months’ pregnant and needs crutches to walk.

Meenakshi Minnis, 31, found all the seats were taken when she got on a tram at Deansgate-Castlefield on her way home to Timperley. Mrs Minnis asked passengers on the tram if they would give up their seat – but no-one moved.

She had to stand until the tram had travelled four stops to Stretford before a seat became available. Mrs Minnis, who is expecting her second child, says she had asked Metrolink staff to find her a seat but they failed to help her.

Mrs Minnis said: “I am a regular customer with Metrolink and I need a seat because the movement of the tram causes problems with my balance. It was very busy and I let one tram go by because it was packed.

"There were about 10 staff on the platform and when the second tram arrived it was also busy, so I asked a member of staff if she would help me find a seat. She looked at me as if I was being unreasonable.”

Mrs Minnis, who needs crutches to help her walk because of a pelvic condition linked to her pregnancy, complained to tram bosses after the journey on November 11. She says she has not had an official response.

Mrs Minnis, who lives with husband David and their three-year-old son Dilan said: “I think it is important to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else. This needs to be addressed.

“I ended up standing and nearly most my balance – if I had fallen it could have been really serious.”

Mike Mabey, head of passenger services at Metrolink, said officials had reviewed CCTV and found a member of staff did ask passengers to give up their seats, but no one was willing to do so.

He said: “We were extremely saddened to hear of Mrs Minnis’ tram experience.Unfortunately, staff can only request that a passenger give up their seat. We are not able to force them should they choose not to.”